National news

PBS chief defends need for federal funding

JohnD. Stoll

DETROIT -- The head of PBS launched a spirited defense of public broadcasting, saying the organization would like to end reliance on federal funding if access for millions of Americans wasn't dependent on that money.

PBS Chief Executive Paula Kerger, speaking at the Detroit Economic Club Friday, said she was surprised to see federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting targeted in the Trump administration's proposed budget. That funding -- equaling $445 million this fiscal year -- is a critical lifeline for many of the stations under PBS's umbrella that are located in more remote areas.

The threat of losing the support "threatens our very existence," she said. She questioned whether targeting the CPB's budget makes sense since it is a "tiny tiny part of the (federal) budget."

PBS receives $26 million for television programming from the CPB and member stations count on funding to help pay for content.

"We particularly worry about rural communities, "Ms. Kerger said, noting dozens of stations spanning Tennessee to Alaska rely on federal funds for a substantial portion of their operating budget. "There is no Plan B, " she said when asked if there is something that can be done if the federal lifeline is severed.

Although federal funds distributed by the CPB provide about 15% of the average public station's operating budget, nearly half of PBS affiliates in the U.S. actually rely on the funding for a bulk of expenses.

Ms. Kerger said PBS understands the federal funding leads to heightened public scrutiny. "If it could be replaced we wouldn't want to stay on an appropriation," she said. Since it is available, "it needs to be carefully spent."

Ms. Kerger addressed allegations that PBS and other public broadcasting operations, such as National Public Radio, have a liberal bias. Pointing to the PBS's popular "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," she said "Daniel is not liberal" and noted PBS's NewsHour attempts to put big news issues in context rather than simply cover them in short sound bites.

She said NewsHour has seen a "surge" in viewership in recent months.

She also countered suggestions that PBS's federal ties come with undue political pressure.

Critics say PBS's programming can easily be replaced by for-profit networks or streaming-video providers like Netflix Inc. Ms. Kerger said PBS cooperates with a variety of networks and companies (Sesame Street airs on HBO) but those companies ultimately need to respond to short-term market trends.

She noted PBS didn't jump on the reality television bandwagon in recent decades, which helped revive fortunes of several networks. She said few History Channel viewers, for instance, see much history programming on that network, and many can't remember that A+E Networks originally stood for arts and entertainment.

Ms. Kerger said PBS's programming remains a vital source of unique information for viewers, including content for children unable to attend preschool or unable to access programming other than public television. PBS will soon add a gaming function for children viewing its shows, which will allow them to pause a program and interact with its content in a different way.

She pointed to an upcoming multipart series on The Vietnam War directed by Ken Burns as an example of what PBS does best.

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